Sherry Birger

CLEVELAND Sherry Lynn Birger passed away Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012.She was born Sherry Lynn Moultrie in Cullman, Ala. on Jan. 13, 1950 and graduated with Honors from Huntsville High School in 1968. In 1973, she again graduated with Honors from The University of Tennessee in Knoxville with bachelor of arts degrees in both French and English. At 50, she earned her masters degree in English from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and was awarded membership to the "Sigma Tau Delta Honorary Society" for her outstanding academic achievement. Sherry's academic teaching experiences included positions with Roan County, Knox County, and Hamilton County Schools as well as Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn. At the Knox County Sheriffs Department she wrote and received a grant from Governor Lamar Alexander's Highway Safety Program to fund and create a children's coloring book which she entitled, "Safetyman" to teach concepts of safety to small children.Sherry enjoyed literature, history, playing classical piano, European travel, hiking, bicycling, her little doggies and kitty cats, camping and flying along hundreds of miles of mountain trails on her Tennessee Walking Horse, O-So-Silver. She loved the thrilling power of driving her 2006 Ford F-250 Crew Cab 4 Wheel Drive 6 liter Power Stoke Diesel Pick-up which she and her granddaughter, Stella, fondly referred to as "Grandma Sherrys Big Red Truck".Sherry engendered a legendary enthusiasm for life and the celebration of it through dance and music. Well illustrated, her tabletop humming-bird-wing-shake and rhythmic-crash style of Tambourine play was never challenged.Sherry is survived by her loving husband of 42 years, Steve Birger; impassioned children, Stephen Perry Birger and Anastasia Collette Ozkaya and husband, Metehan Ozkaya, and her darling 3-year-old granddaughter, Stella. Metehans family Tugrul, Fusun and Murat Ozkaya as well as her brother Jimmy Moultrie and wife Mary remain. Sherry's many friends whom she touched are her extended family and survive her as well.Sherry, a devout and faithful Christian, was a member of Broad Street United Methodist Church in Cleveland, Tenn.To celebrate her life and join with those whose lives she touched, please come to her Memorial Service Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012 at Broad Street United Methodist Church, 155 Central Avenue, NW, Cleveland, Tenn.Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. after which a service in the Sanctuary will be held and officiated by Pastor Randy Martin.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Broad Street United Methodist Church, "Sherry Birger Children's Ministry Fund" P.O. Box 3, Cleveland, TN 37364.Ralph Buckner Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.